Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-04
How Mrs. Lucy Parsons Made a
Large Sale Of Books
Containing the Histories Of The Condemned
Anarchists.
Great Precautions Being Taken to Pre-
vent their Shielding.
CHICAGO. Nov. )

CHICAGO, Nov. j.
4 rumor was current last night that Spies
the anarchist, had determined to commit sui
eide rather than die on the gallows. There
are anarchists in Chicago who declare that
Spies will never be hanged. They agree that
no earthly power can avail, but stoutly main
tain that their leader will cheat the gallows
The intelligence has been communicated To
the authorities.
Capt. Black and l.. 5. Oliver held a short
conference this morning with the seven con-
demned anarchists. They refused TO make
public the matter discussed.
Ii is said they expected TO go to Spring
field with the amnesty petition Monday eve
ming.
1t is said that the men couldn't be hired TO
commit suicide. nor would they consent to an
application for a writ of de lunatico inqui-
enda.
Mrs. Lucy Parsons, wife of the condemned
anarchist, created a sensation today by ap-
pearing on the streets and selling pamphlets
entitled, WAS il a fair trial, at five cents a
piece. Her arms were full of the documents
and she was soon surrounded by big crowd
that completely blocked the street. In vain
car drivers rang their bells and hundreds of
teamsters yelled expostulations.
4 couple of officers took Mrs Parsons be-
fore Chief Ebersold, who decided that she
had the same right to sell books that other
vendors had, and might continue the book
business as long as she pleased, provided she
didn't block the sidewalks and streets.
Accordingly getting fresh supply of
books, she walked briskly down the street to
the post office, handing out books faster than
she could make change. On gaining the
steps of the government building she was
once more surrounded by large crowd and
was told by the deputy marshal to move on.
She obeyed, and continued to walk through
the streets until complely exhausted. In a
few hours she scld nearly five thousand cop
les.
August Spies, Samuel Fielden and Nieho-
las Schwab sigued petition today humbly
begging the government to commute their
sentences, These were the only ones who
had not written to the governor that they
would not accept combinations.
The signatures of Fielden and Schwab
were secured by Capt Black and l.. ID. Oil
ver at the conference. All sorts of entrea-
ties were adopted to get Spies to sign, but he
resolutcly refused, also Engel, Lingg, Fisch-
cr and Parsons
At $50 O'Clock this afternoon the same pc
titions were brought to the Jail by DIR.
l.innemeyer, with permission from the sher-
iff to confer with the condemned men. Geo.
Schilling arrived later and joined the party.
1t was plain that Spies had weakened. He
read the petition several times. After hours
of pleading Spies said, well, give me a
pen" With flourish his name was append
ed below.
The visitors then turned their attention to
the others, Schilling talked long and earn
esty with Parsons, but seemed to make no
impression.
Lingg absolutely refused to consider the
topic He and Engel talked together fire.
quently and smiled. Fischer seemed to be
in doubt. Stauber paid him special atten-
ton and occasionally patted him on the back
in an encouraging way, but he didn't relent
in the least.
Its understood that the three petitions
presented were each differently worded.
Spies, Fielden and Schwab signed the same.
None suited the other four. The party are
to call again tomorrow.
George Francis Train sent seven packages
of fruit to the condemned men today with
81 dollar note attached to each.